Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Music

How to Read a Musical Score: Basics

The Greeks invented the word "music." They believed these mythological creatures were wise men, and music was inspired by their thoughts. They said that music was the beginning of wisdom. Musical language is a graphical representation of sound. Letters are symbols that represent the pitch of the sound. Notes are placed on or under the staff lines. Additional ledger lines are added for notes too high or too low to be represented on the staff. A scale is a series of correlative sounds. Ascending is when the sound goes from low to high, and descending is the opposite. The staff is composed of five lines and four spaces, where the music is written. A clef is a symbol placed at the beginning of each staff... Continue reading "Understanding Musical Scores, Instruments, and Genres" »

Literary Genres

Lyric

Lyric poetry imitates moods and emotions. It is characterized by subjective expression, often focusing on a single aspect and presented in brief verses. Common themes include love and religion, often expressed in a monologue. Vocabulary and syntax are simple, with varied meter and a predominance of shorter verses.

• Eclogue: Includes an introduction, closing, and dialogues between pastoralists on matters of love.
• Elegy: Expresses sadness, melancholy, sentimentality, and memorial themes with varied meter.
• Ode: Dedicated to great personages, using elevated language and varied meter.

Narrative

Narrative texts tell stories through a narrator within the fictional world. Prose is the predominant mode of discourse.

• Epic: Extensive narration

The Modern Age

The Modern Age spans from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. European society witnessed significant social and economic progress, particularly in culture and art. Italian Humanism laid the foundation for the great artistic and literary movements of the Modern Ages, including the Renaissance (XV-XVI), the Baroque (XVII), and the Enlightenment and Neoclassicism (XVIII).

The Renaissance

The Renaissance originated in Italy, expressing a desire to restore the ideals of classical Greco-Roman civilization. It emphasized human dignity and a new societal order based on secular principles, rather than religious ones. This era marked a break from the immediate past. Art and science became the primary means of achieving these goals. In... Continue reading "European Modern Age: Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment" »

Literary Devices and Their Functions

Literary devices are the linguistic means by which an author uses a series of resources to guide the reader in how things are said.

Syllabic Rhythm and Rhyme

Syllabic rhythm is produced by the periodic repetition of the same number of syllables in a series of verses. The sinalefa (when a word ends in a vowel and the next word begins with a vowel, they are counted as one syllable) is a key element. Whether the last word is acute, flat, or proparoxytone affects the syllable count. Rhyming verse involves the periodic repetition of sounds from the last vowel of a verse. If all sounds (vowels and consonants) are repeated, it's a full rhyme; if only vowels are repeated, it's an assonance.

Phonic and Morphosyntactic

Romanticism: A Philosophical and Moral Stance

Romanticism positions the individual within a global context of philosophical and religious moral values. The romantic profile is characterized by:

• A yearning for freedom
• Religious exaltation
• The exaltation of feelings and passions
• Clash of power through the idea of liberalism
• Questioning of eternal values and admission of an evolutionary moral idea

Styles, Techniques, and Models of Romanticism

Subjectivity in narrative allows the author's feelings to permeate the work. Within the movement, two opposing currents emerge:

1. Conservative Romanticism

A return to traditions lost to liberal influences.

2. Revolutionary Romanticism

A renewal of the old social structures of the Ancien Régime.

Romantic Prose

Development... Continue reading "Romanticism: A Deep Dive into its Styles, Techniques, and Key Figures" »

Spanish Romanticism: An Overview

As for poetry, it reflects the transition from neoclassical to romantic aesthetics. The rise appears after Ferdinand VII's death, leading to the composition of many pieces, spreading through both oral and written traditions. Main topics included feelings, societal protest, love, intimacy, and historical legends. The context-free grammar had variety and metrics (especially with the use of polarimetry, i.e., mixtures), combining verse and prose and creating new stanzas.

In Romantic poetry, there is a great development of narrative poetry, verses recounting historical, legendary, or fictional events, with works such as "Student of Salamanca" by the Duke of Ribas and "Devil World" by Espronceda. Lyric poetry, expressing... Continue reading "Spanish Romanticism: Poetry, Theater, and Historical Context" »

Evolution of Music Genres

Urban-folk music, prevalent in today's urban societies, aims to resonate with everyone and reflects the current historical context.

Rock 'n' roll emerged as a white interpretation of rhythm 'n' blues, uniting young black and white audiences.

The pioneer of rock 'n' roll in Spain: The Dynamic Duo.

Whole-rock is a musical evolution from rock 'n' roll, primarily played by black musicians.

Pop music gained prominence with The Beatles, presenting a white rock style.

The folk movement originated in the United States, advocating for the emancipation of the black population.

The New Song movement was a socio-political musical phenomenon that began in Catalonia, revitalizing Catalan culture (Joan Manuel Serrat, Maria del Mar Bonet)... Continue reading "Evolution of Music Genres: From Rock 'n' Roll to Hip-Hop" »

Fall of the Roman Empire

Late 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries: Gregory the Great.

Birth of Polyphony

9th century: Birth of polyphony.

11th century: Primitive Polyphony.

Ars Antiqua

12th and 13th centuries: Ars Antiqua.

Ars Nova

14th century: Ars Nova.

Middle Ages

Until the 14th century: Middle Ages.

12th century: Early Troubadours.

12th century: Alfonso X, Cantigas.

Renaissance

15th and 16th centuries: Renaissance. Josquin des Prez, T. L. de Victoria, Palestrina, Juan del Encina, and the splendor of polyphony.

Baroque

17th century and the second half of the 18th century: Baroque.

Monteverdi: the transition from Renaissance to Baroque.

Classicism

Second half of the 18th century: Classicism.

Romanticism

19th century: Romanticism.

Characteristics of Gregorian Chant

• It is

Spain in the Golden Age

The Golden Age in Spain extended approximately from the end of the reign of the Catholic kings to the death of Charles II. At this time, Spain reached its maximum political and territorial splendor. Through marriages with the Habsburgs and the Ottoman Empire, Portugal was added to the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. An immense empire was progressively dismembered from the last quarter of the sixteenth century. However, in the seventeenth century, Spain was still a great power. Spain was involved in many wars that affected its culture and economy. This was especially true in literature, making it the most important period in the history of Spain.

Reformation and Counter-Reformation

Europe experienced a great interest in... Continue reading "Spain's Golden Age: Renaissance and Baroque Influence" »

History of the Opera

As early as in Western civilizations such as ancient Greece, musical representations appeared linked to the theater. In the Baroque period, with the birth of opera around the year 1600, the final union between music and theater was consolidated.

Composer and his work: Puccini's La Boheme.

What is a Libretto and an Opera Librettist?

The stories told in operas are adapted so they can be sung. This version is called a libretto, and its authors are the librettists.

Zarzuela: Origins and Name

In the seventeenth century, a stage musical genre called zarzuela began in Spain. It was named after the hunting lodge of the Zarzuela Palace, due to the large number of brambles (zarzas in Spanish) that surrounded it.

Notable Zarzuela Composers

Lope... Continue reading "Opera, Zarzuela, and Musical Theater: History and Composers" »